Shadowing Practice: Mia's makeover - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Mia's makeover”. This video has 48 sentences and 289 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:19. The speaker talks slowly, about 87 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 76% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| majesty noun | /ˈmæd͡ʒ.əs.ti/ | The quality of being impressive, great, dignified, powerful, sovereign, or any combination thereof. |
| thick adjective | /θɪk/ | Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite in its smallest solid dimension. |
| mill noun | /mɪl/ | A grinding apparatus for substances such as grains, seeds, etc. (Some are small and simple, and some are large and complex.) |
| gorgeous adjective | /ˈɡoɹd͡ʒəs/ | Sumptuously dressed. |
| wolf noun | /wʊlf/ | Canis lupus; the largest wild member of the canine subfamily. |
| brush noun | /bɹʌʃ/ | An implement consisting of multiple more or less flexible bristles or other filaments attached to a handle, used for any of various purposes including… |
| lens noun | /lɛnz/ | An object, usually made of glass, that focuses or defocuses the light that passes through it. |
| prompt verb | /pɹɑmpt/ | To lead (someone) toward what they should say or do. |
| exhaust verb | /ɪɡˈzɔst/ | To draw or let out wholly; to drain completely. |
| hawk noun | /ˈhɔːk/ | A diurnal predatory bird of the family Accipitridae, smaller than an eagle. |
| attach verb | /əˈtæt͡ʃ/ | To fasten, to join to (literally and figuratively). |
| granddaughter noun | The daughter of someone's child. | |
| eyebrow noun | /ˈaɪˌbɹaʊ/ | The hair that grows over the bone ridge above the eye socket. |
| bonjour | /bɒnˈʒʊə/ | Good morning; hello. |
| confidentiality noun | The property of being confidential. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| come back verb | To return to a place. | |
| make up verb | /ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/ | To constitute, to compose. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Do you wear contact lens?
- You want to know a big secret?
- Why don't we go and have a wonderful cup of tea?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 9 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, we'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: brush /bɹʌʃ/, bonjour /bɒnˈʒʊə/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like majesty, thick, mill.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.